Kristen Schaal Talks About Pretending At ‘What We Do In The Shadows’ Finale Scene

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We didn’t even see a measly peck on the cheek between the two before the duo said goodbye to their characters for good on last night’s finale, when the camera crew left the Staten Island mansion and stopped filming the vampires (much to the shock and dismay of poor Guillermo.)

While speaking with DECIDER about the end of the show, Novak and Schaal said they hope the final episode of FX’s beloved comedy makes its dedicated fans happy — or, as happy as they can be without any more new episodes.

Schaal told us she hopes viewers are “satisfied with how good it is, that it was a good time to wrap it up and that they were happy that they had the show.”

As for Novak, he said, “Our fans are so loyal and enthusiastic and they just love the show. I think they would be happy if it went on forever, and I don’t think they’d care what the hell we go up to. I think there’s a level of fandom that this show has where you could do anything with these characters, and as long as the characters were there, they would be happy just to hang out with them.”

The Shadows stars also told us what they took from the set, how that The Usual Suspects finale scene came together and what’s in store for Guillermo and Nandor on their crime-fighting journey.

Read our full conversation below.

DECIDER: One thing that I was  surprised by this season was that  one-sided romance between Nandor and The Guide, and I was wondering what it was like  crafting that?

KRISTEN SCHAAL: I remember being excited about it because that meant I get to have more scenes with Kayvan because he’s the nicest actor to work with. So giving, just making sure everyone is the king or queen of the scene. But I was also a little worried about the audience, because I know they’re so hot for a Nandor and Guillermo romance that I was like, are people going to be annoyed by a crush on The Guide? But vampires can have multiple crushes. So I think it worked out.

Kristen, that The Usual Suspects finale within the finale was really fun to watch. I wonder if you could tell me a little bit more about how that came together or if you were a fan of The Usual Suspects before filming that?

KS: Yes. Everyone should be a fan of The Usual Suspects, and if they’re not just stop watching entertainment altogether! I loved it. I studied the movie and read all the trivia and of course also studied frame by frame. And one of the things that really blew my mind is when you’re watching Chazz [Palminteri] look at the bulletin board. You just think he’s looking at a bulletin board, and when it was my turn to do it I didn’t have a bulletin board. [Laughs] And it was the first time I realized neither did he, and I know that’s acting, but I was like, and then I’ll look at this and I’ll look at that. And then they’re like, okay, so just look at over here in the black space, over here.

KAYVAN NOVAK: That was brilliant. I loved that.

Kayvan, Nandor often gets a rep for being one the less intelligent vampires in the house. But in the finale, it’s revealed that he had a whole contraption in his coffin. Do you think we’ve been underestimating him the whole time? Maybe I’ve just been underestimating him. What’s your take?

KN: Honestly, I don’t know who they hell built that contraption. I don’t think it was Nandor. In my opinion, it could have been a leftover wish from Season 3. I don’t know. I guess it kind of suited the story and it was a fun kind of twist. And it’s the last season, it’s the last episode, it’s the last dying minutes of a show. So anything goes, I guess. So I’m glad that the writers didn’t overthink that, as you know, the viewers, might: Who built that contraption, what are the conspiracy theories behind its creation? But yeah, I mean, for me, that whole contraption was a secret portal to Season 7, and that didn’t happen. So I’m guessing the contraption didn’t even work. [Laughs].

KS: I think it could be a spin-off show.

KN: Yeah, I don’t think so. Because, you know, there’s a spinoff show, they’d be like, where’s The Guide, where’s  Laszlo, where’s Nadja, where are all of my favorite vampires? Why am I stuck with these two? Get a room already!

And where do you think that whole superhero idea came from for him? If he’s already a vampire, why would he want to be a superhero, too?

KN: I don’t know. Because I guess playing these vampires, we kind of did feel like super heroes in a way because we had all these powers, but we were kind of goofy with it. I guess it’s just another idea for Nandor. Oh, I didn’t find love, I didn’t find happiness, I didn’t find peace in solitude. I’ll try being a superhero for a bit. And you know, hope it gets me a spinoff.

KS: You’re right, though. Vampires are demonic, but they do have so much power: Strength, flying.

KN: Yeah, they are. You forget that they’re demonic in this show, and you forget that they’re all mass murderers. It just shows the strength of the acting, in my opinion.

And in this season finale, I know Kristen you said you didn’t have a bulletin board, but looking at the bulletin board, there are so many reminders of the past episodes and everything that’s been crammed into all of these seasons. Obviously there are fan-favorite jokes and bits, but do either of you have a joke or a running bit or anything that you really loved that you wish had been in the show more?

KS: That’s going to hurt the writer’s feelings.

Or just a favorite!

KN: I had this catchphrase that I kept saying, and, you know, no one ever paid any attention.

KS: Which one?

KN: Come on, you know which one! 

KS: Fucking Guide?

KN: Well it kept changing, yeah. Fucking Guide, fucking guy.

KS: Everybody loved that.

KN: But I’m a more subtle one, I don’t know. Kristen, did you have a more subtle one?

KS: Well, I remember just where it came out that The Guide was into Van Helsing and then that kind of just sort of went away. I wish that she was a little creepier around— there’s more Guillermo creepiness. It would have just been fun to add that in more.

KN: One of The Guide’s things was that she would disappear and reappear in different places. You did that less and less, though, didn’t you?

KS: Well, I was on the show less and less.

KN: I guess you did the same then. One second you’re in Toronto, the next year in L.A. and then you’re back again [Both laugh].

KN: Where’s Kristen? [Nandor voice] The Guide, not again, she’s back in L.A.!

Kayvan, your character says in one of the final scenes to Guillermo, ‘You can call me Nandor.’ Do you think they’re kind of equals when the show ends? Or do you think there will always be that sort of power imbalance?

KN: I guess it needed a moment where they were either going to kiss passionately or make love vigorously, but neither of those things happened. So I guess Nandor’s version of that is, ‘You can call me Nandor.’ You know? You know, that’s all you’re getting from me. I know you want more, but you ain’t going to get it. So you call me Nandor and be happy with that.

Do you wish the two characters got together romantically, or are you happy with how it ended?

KN: Absolutely! I’ve been waiting for a love scene with with Harvey for six seasons.I mean, who wouldn’t? He’s beautifully round and cute and talented guy. Who wouldn’t want to have a love scene with him? Wait, you had a love scene with him, didn’t you, Kristen?

KS: Well, he didn’t want it in the scene.

KN: Oh, he knocked you back?

KS: Yeah. I feel like you guys would get those sad eyes gazing into each other’s faces like you guys are having love scenes with your eyes.

KN: Yeah, that’s true.

And how do you think each of your characters changed and evolved over these six seasons?

KN: I feel like Nandor pretty much stayed the same. I guess that’s kind of what comedy characters have to do. They can’t really change. They always try and change, but they always go back to who they are. It reminds us of our own humanity and how we strive to become better people and yet at the same time remain the same losers and wasters. There’s no shame in that. And it’s okay to be a 700 year old vampire from Al Qolnidar. That’s my take on it, anyway. Kristen, what’s your intelligent take?

KS: My take is Kayvan’s take.

KN: Yes! Good answer.

I’m wondering if either of you took anything from set before you wrapped up for good.

KN: [Novak takes his laptop and gets up to show two portraits of his character from the show hanging on his wall]. And my fangs as well.

Oh, of course. Kristen, what about you?

KS: I have a Pee-Wee Herman picture.

What, ultimately, do you hope fans take away from the finale?

KS: That they’re satisfied with how good it is, that it was a good time to wrap it up and that they were happy that they had the show.

KN: I think they’ll probably they’ll take the first one, but I’m not sure about the other two. I think our fans are so loyal and enthusiastic and they just love the show. There’s so many bits of this show that you can love and they do love. I think they would be happy if it went on forever, and I don’t think they’d care what the hell we go up to. I think there’s a level of fandom that this show has where you could do anything with these characters, and as long as the characters were there, they would be happy just to hang out with them. The writing has been so strong and I think it’s been an incredible ride, but I think they will be very happy with the ending. Apart from the fact that is the ending, but then they just go back and watch their favorite episodes anyway.

I know a lot of people love the show because it’s just a really good escape; it’s silly and funny. And since you work on it, you can’t really use it as an escape, so what do either of you watch as a form of escapism these days?

KN: I’ve been struggling to escape. It’s all felt quite intense lately. I escaped being in the show. That was my best escape, being Nandor. I was just thinking about that feeling. I’m sure Kristen felt this as well. But before you do a long take, it’s like you’re actually taking a break from yourself. And it’s so therapeutic, having to be me for this long, although I’ve just become a dad. So that feels like a new identity for me that, you know, kind of appeals to my my acting side as well. I’m like, wow, I’m playing dad, this is cool. And then that just takes over as a whole world and it’s just beautiful for me because I feel like it’s happened to me at the right time in my life. I think for some people they have kids and they feel like a burden or an inconvenience. For me, I just love every second of it and I’m just home all the time with my baby. It’s fantastic. Very hard on my nipples, but apart from that… [Laughs].

KS: You can get a cream.

KN: I think that answered the question. Kristen, we’ve only got 30 seconds left, so make it quick.

KS: I’ve been watching Bob’s Burgers.

KN: You’re in that, though, you’re not allowed to escape!

KS: I know, but my six year old finally is ready to watch it. And we’ve been watching it together, and I have to catch up. These episodes I filmed  in 2022 or something. So it’s been really nice. I highly recommend that show.

KN: I’m going to check it out now. You said you’d get me a part in it, and you lied! 

KS: I can’t even get Harvey on that show.

KN: Fuck Harvey, man. Me! Me! Why are you comparing me to Harvey?

KS: Well, cause Harvey asked before you, but I’ll let them know you want a part.

KN: Yes, please.

KS: I mean, I don’t have a lot of power.  I’m an actor, that’s all I am.

KN: Listen, you’re Kristen Schaal. You’ve got over 38,000 Twitter followers. What are you talking about?

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What We Do in the Shadows Seasons 1-6 are now streaming on Hulu.